This "virtual newspaper for an aquatic world" contains musings, science, facts and opinions-both profound and mundane-about the River region, its people and natural resources, and their nexus to the Washington, DC scene.
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Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Capitol Hill This Week - What to Watch For (UPDATED)

Both chambers of Congress are back in session starting today (Monday), and below are the U.S. House and Senate activities currently scheduled for the week that relate to Mississippi River Basin water resources. Links are provided to the relevant committee web pages, and, where appropriate, to pieces of legislation. Many Congressional proceedings are webcast live, and these should be, as well (follow the appropriate link).

In addition to the committee activities listed below, Congressional budget negotiators will attempt to craft a Budget Resolution that reconciles differences between the previously-passed House and Senate versions. The final budget, if passed, is not signed by the President, but under Congressional rules, provides top-line funding limits within which the House and Senate appropriation committees are to work as they draft their fiscal year 2016 spending bills.

A Senate-House conference committee could formally begin its work on a compromise budget as early as this week. To meet an April 15 statutory deadline (which has been routinely missed in the past), the two Budget Committee chairmen - Rep. Tom Price (R-GA) and Sen. Mike Enzi (R-WY) - will need to appoint conferees to a House-Senate conference committee, have them agree on spending levels, and then have the conference report passed by both the House and Senate, all by Wednesday.

House Agriculture Subcommittee on Biotechnology, Horticulture, and Research hearing regarding "A Presentation by National 4-H Conference Participants Concerning the Future of Agriculture in the United States;" 1:00 PM, room 1300 Longworth House Office Building.

House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Power, and Oceans oversight hearing on "Federal Water Grabs" (will focus on the U.S. EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers' proposed "Waters of the United States" rule and the U.S. Forest Service's "groundwater directive"); 1:30 PM, room 1324 Longworth House Office Building.

House Energy and Commerce Committee markup and vote on the Coal Combustion Residuals Regulation Act of 2015, which would modify the U.S. EPA's new coal combustion waste disposal rule and create a state-centered oversight system; 5:00 PM (continuing on Wednesday starting at 10:00 AM), room 2123 Rayburn House Office Building.

Wednesday

House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Federal Lands oversight hearing on "Federal Land Acquisition and its Impacts on Communities and the Environment" (likely to focus on the use of the Land and Water Conservation Fund); 9:00 AM, room 1324 Longworth House Office Building.

House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies markup of FY 2016 Energy and Water Appropriations Bill (funding for Army Corps of Engineers, Department of the Interior-Bureau of Reclamation); 10:00 AM, room 2362-B Rayburn House Office Building.